Fruit-picker.



J. E. ELKINS FRUIT PICKER.

APPLICATIONFJLED JULY14,1915- Patented July 25, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- J EEb/ixlns INVENTOR Attorney J. E. ELKINS.

FRUIT PICKER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14. 1915.

Patented July 25, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Alfomey TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN ENOCI-I ELKIN'S, or JUNET, ARKANSAS, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF TO JAMES E.

SIMMONS, or PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS.

FRUIT-PICKER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN ENOCH ELKINS, citizen of the United States, residing at J unet,.in the county of Grant and State of Arkansas, have invented a new and useful Fruit-Picker, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in fruit pickers or gatherers, and the object is to provide movable blades which are adapted to cooperate with a stationary blade in severing or plucking the fruit.

Another object of the invention is in the provision of a sectional staff or pole for supporting the head or hood, and in which staff or pole the means for actuating the blades is received.

A further objectis in the provision of a flexible sectional tube which is connected to the head or hood for conducting the fruit from the head or hood to a sack or receptacle suspended from a belt applied to the operator.

A still further object is in the provision of an extensible section which forms a part of the staff or pole, and which is connected to the belt whereby the head or hood may beraised and lowered for the purpose of locating the head or hood with respect to the fruit so that in cutting a stem the fruit will be discharged downwardly through the hood or head and into the flexible tube.

The invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims, it being un derstood that changes in the form, proportion, material and minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation and partly in section of the hood or head. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the head or hood. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the staff or pole illustrating the adjustable or extensible section. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a portion of the rope or cable for operating the blades. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 3.

A represents the head or hood which is preferably cylindrical in shape and is pro- Specification of Letters Patent.

vided with an opening 1 in the side wall thereof which is preferably circular in shape. A V-shaped notch 2 is formed in the top of the hood or head which is in communication with the opening 1. The top 3 is preferably flat and mounted thereon is a steel plate 4 which is provided with a notch 5 formlng blades 6. The blades 6 are ar ranged along the edges of the notch 5 and are'preferably beveled on their lower surfaces. These blades 6 project beyond the edges of the notch 2, the notch 5 formed in the plate 4 being smaller than the notch 2.

Mounted upon the top 3, and plate 4, are blades 7. These-blades are provided with elongated slots 8. Passing through the slots of the two blades 7, plate 4, and top. 3,. is a rivet 9 for fastening the blades and plate to the top. The blades 7 cross each other and are capable of being moved across the top 3 for producing a cutting operation. The inner edge of each blade is provided with a plurality of teeth 12. The teeth are beveled along their inclined and transverse edges. The teeth of the upper blade are beveled on their outer surfaces and the teeth of the lower blade are beveled on their inner surfaces, so that the smooth surface of the two blades are brought together upon the actuation of the blades producing a out similar to the cut of a pair of shears.

The inner terminals-of the blades 7 are preferably turned slightly upward forming flanges 13. Connected to these flanges are flexible means, such as chains 14, by means of snap hooks 15. The chains are connected Patented July 25,1916. 7 Application filed July 14, 1915. SerialNo. 39,851 v together by a ring 16 to which is connected v and act as guides for the outer terminals of the blades 7 during their movement. Connected to the strips 18, by means of hooks 20, are coil springs 21. The. other terminals of the spring 21. are connected to the inner terminals of the blades 7, these springs tending to resist the action or movement of the blades, imparted to the blades by the rope or cable 17, and thereby maintaining the blades in an open. position.

A cover 22 is mounted upon the head or hood A, and over the blades 7 and plate 4, and is held in position by means of bolts 23 which pass through the top 3, lateral strips 18, and hooks 20, and nuts 24L are screwed upon the bolts 23 for fastening the cover in position. The cover is provided with a V-shaped notch 25, which registers with the V-shaped notches 2 and5 of the top 3 and plate l, respectively. A tube 26 is connected to the outer surface of the hood or head A, and the upper terminal of the tube is bent and extends laterally or at an angle to the main portion of the tube, and is received between the cover 22 and the outer surface of the hood or head. A pulley 27 is mounted between ears 28 formed on the plate 1,. and passing over the pulley and into and through the tube 26 is a. rope or cable 17 The tube 26 is preferably inclined and slightly curved through the greater part of its length, and extends from the rear side of the hood or head to the front side thereof. or head A is preferably reduced, forming a tubular. extension 29, and connected to this extension by means of bolts 30 is a block 31. A staff or pole consisting of a plurality of tubular sections 32, which are preferably made from galvanized :iron plate, has its upper section connected to the block 31 by means of clips or clamps- 3 The lower terminal of the tube 26 is received in the upper terminal of the uppermost section 32 of the staff or pole. Each section 32, with the exception of the uppermost section, has its ends crimped or corrugated whereby the several sections can be screwed together. The lowermost section is received in a tubular sleeve 35, and screwed upon the'lower terminal of the lowermost section of the staff or pole is a knob or ball A re ducer or bushing 37 has screw-threaded engagement with the inner wall of the sleeve 35, Which is adapted to be engaged by the ball 36 for limiting the outward movement of the lowermost section of the pole or staff. The lower terminal of the sleeve 35 is preferably closed, and is provided with an eye 37 which is engaged by a clip 38 for connecting the sleeve to a belt 39, and a hand grip 40 is connected to the lowermost section 32, by means of bolts 41, which may be grasped by the hand of the operator, for raising and lowering the hood or head A during the picking operation.

Extending through the sectional staff or pole is a rope or cable 17. The rope or cable is preferably made from a plurality of sections, as indicated in Fig. 5. Connected to each section at one terminal. thereof is a. snap hook 42, and at the other terminal a ring 43, so that it is possible to increase or decrease the length of the rope or cable to suit the requirements, and additional tubes The lower portion of the hoodcan be applied at any time for lengthening the staff or pole, or sections may be removed for shortening the staff or pole, the length of the staff and cable being governed by the size of the trees from which the fruit is to be picked. An opening 4% is formed in the lowermost section 32 of the staff or pole, above the hand grip 10, through which the lower terminal of the rope or cable projects whereby it can be grasped by the hand of the operator for actuating the blades.

A flexible tube, preferably constructed of canvas or duck, is composed of a plurality of sections 45 which are connected together by means of straps 4G and buckles 17. The uppermost section of the tube is riveted to the lower terminal. of the tubular extension 29 by means of rivtes 4-8, and the lowermost section is n'ovided with rings which ongage hooks 50 011 the belt 39. A sack or bag 51 is mounted upon the hooks 50 in a position toreceive the fruit as it is discharged from the lowermost section of the tube. The sectional tubes 45 can be applied to or removed from the flexible tube at any time to make the tube of the proper length to suit the requirements. The belt 39 is preferably applied around the waist of the operator. and the stall or pole is grasped by a hand of the operator, causing the hood or head to be brought to a position so that the fruit will pass through the opening 1 formed in the side of the hood or head, and the stem into the notches 2, 5 and of the top 3, plate 1 and cover 22, respectively. lVhen the stem has been inserted in the several notches the rope or cable 17 is pulled causing the movable blades 7 to be drawn across the top 3, and the stem to be engaged between the teeth of each blade for the purpose of severing the stem from the limb of the tree. After the stem has been severed the fruit will fall into the hood or head A and thence into the tube 4-5 and bag 51. hen the blades 7 are drawn across the top of the hood or head, the stem of the fruit will be drawn into engagement with the beveled surfaces of the blades 6 which will assist in severing the stem from the limb. It will be seen that a stationary blade and two movable blades are provided for severing the stem from the limb. Upon the severing operation the rope or able 17 is released and the springs 21 will cause the blades 7 to return to their normal or open position along the edges of the notches 2 and 5.

great deal of the weight of the hood or mad A and the flexible tube 15 is supported from the waist of the operator except when it is necessary to elevate the hood by moving the lowermost section 32 of the staff or pole upwardly. lVhen this is necessary the weight of the hood and tube is placed entirely upon the arm of the operator. lVith this extensible connection between the sleeve 35 and the lowermost section 32 of the staff, it is possible to remove fruit from the tree without the necessity of applying an additional section to the staff and tube.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a very simple apparatus is provided for the removal of fruit from a tree, and which is composed of a plurality of'sections, which sections can be easily connected together or disengaged to suit the conditions under which the apparatus is to be used. Furthermore, the fruit is gathered as it is picked without the necessity of lowering the head or hood for the purpose of emptying the hood of its contents into a receptacle. The head or hood does not require lowering excepting at the will of the operator or until the picking has been completed. I

WVhat is claimed is,

1. A fruit picker comprising a hollow head having a V-shaped opening, blades mounted on the hollow head and along the edges of the opening, said blades crossing each other and provided with elongated slots, means passing through the slots for fastening the blades to the hollow head, and means engaging the inner terminals of the blades for sliding the blades across the hollow head and causing the outer terminals of the blades to be moved toward and across each other for producing a severing operation.

2. A fruit picker comprising a hollow head having a V-shaped notch, blades mounted upon the head and along the edges of the notch, said blades having elongated slots and toothed cutting edges, means passing through the elongated slots for connecting the blades to the hollow head, and means for sliding the blades across the head and causing the cutting edges to move toward and across each other for severing the stem of the fruit.

3. A fruit picker comprising a hollow head having a V-shaped notch therein, a plate connected to the hollow head provided with a V-shaped notch'forming blades, said blades projecting beyond the edges of the notch of the hollow head, movable blades mounted upon the head and crossing each other, said blades having elongated slots and toothed cutting edges normally lying along the edges of the notch of the head and above the blades of the plate, and means for actuating the movable blades for causing the toothed cutting edges tobe brought toward and across each other to cooperate with the blades of the plate for severing the stem from the fruit.

4. A fruit picker comprising a hollow head having a V-shaped notch therein, a plate connected to the hollow head provided with a V-shaped notch forming blades, said blades projecting beyond the edges of the notch of the hollow head, movable blades mounted upon the head and crossing, each other, said blades having elongated slots and toothed cutting edges normally lying along the edges of the notch of the head and above the blades of the plate, means for actuating the movable blades for causing the toothed cutting edges to be brought toward and across each other to cooperate with the blades of the plate for severing the stem from the fruit, and means for returning the movable blades to their normal position.

5. A fruit picker comprising a hollow head having a V-shaped notch, a plate connected to the hollow head having a notch therein forming blades along the edges of the notch, said blades located along the edges of the notch of the hollow head and projecting beyond said edges, movable blades mounted upon the hollow head having toothed cutting edges, means for sliding the movable blades across the hollow head to cause the teeth of the movable blades to move toward and cross each other and to cooperate with the blades of the plate for severing the fruit from the stem, and means for returning the movable blades to their normal position.

G. A fruit picker comprising a hollow hood having a top and an opening in the side wall. thereof, said top being provided with a V-shaped notch which is in commu' nication with the opening in the wall of the hollow head, a plate mounted on the top having a V-shaped notch, the edges of said notch forming blades which extend beyond the edges of the notch of the top, movable blades mounted on the plate and crossing each other, said movable blades provided with toothed cutting edges and elongated slots, means passing through the elongated slots of said blades and through the plate and top for fastening the movable blades and plate to the top, said movable blades normally lying along the edges of the blades of the plate, springs for normally maintaining the movable blades in said position, means connected to the inner terminals of the movable blades for operating them to cause the toothed edges to be moved toward each other for engaging a stem, and to cooperate with the blades of the plate for severing the stem, and means connected to the hollow head for conducting the fruit therefrom upon the severing of the stem.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN ENOCH ELKINS.

Witnesses:

A. H. RUssELL, J. E. SIMMONS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

